25 Cool Tricks And Secret Gems Inside Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is so much more than a mere chat app. Learn the best tips and tricks to turn yourself into a power user.

Evan Dashevsky

4 Sep 2019, 4:50 a.m.

With over a billion monthly users, Facebook's standalone messaging platform, the aptly named Facebook Messenger, has become almost as popular as Facebook itself.

But Zuck & Co. appear to have far bigger plans for Messenger than just being Facebook's chatty kid sibling. Over the past few years, Facebook has packed a lot of cool (and somewhat unexpected) functionality into Messenger, and that could soon include tighter integration with WhatsApp and Instagram. For now, it's still an all-in-one productivity, communication, and entertainment platform. Here's what you need to know.

Chat on Messenger.com

Messenger.com is helpful if you work in front of a computer and don't want your boss seeing you with your head buried in a smartphone all day. It doesn't have all the functionality of the Facebook Messenger app, but it gets the job done.

Transfer Files

While most of the really cool stuff is reserved for the Messenger mobile apps, the web version allows you to send files: Microsoft Word documents, Photoshop files, and even videos.

If you're using the pop-up chat interface on Facebook.com, there's a little paperclip icon you can use to attach documents. If you're using Messenger.com, you can just drag and drop files, or click the icon that looks like two overlapping photos.

Those on mobile can receive and access these files, but the Messenger app only allows you to send photos.

Send Video Messages

You can, however, create short videos in Facebook Messenger and load them up with filters and other customization. On mobile, tap the camera icon, and hold the center icon to record a video.

Create a Story

Messenger isn't just for chatting with friends. Sometimes you want to make a statement to the world (aka, your Facebook friends), which you can do by creating a Facebook Story. Similar to Snapchat and Instagram, you can create short collections of video and pictures to which you can add filters and written messages.

To get started, tap the "Your Story/Add to Your Story" icon atop the Chats or People pages and follow the on-screen directions. Once the Story has been published, it will remain visible for 24 hours. You can adjust settings in order to ensure that only certain people see your story.

Send Audio Messages

Facebook Messenger allows you to send audio messages to your contacts. Just tap the four-dot icon and select Record Voice to create a recording, then send it to the person you're chatting with.

Manage Groups

Messenger allows users to engage in group conversations, which is a nice feature when organizing a night out or keeping in touch with a group of people. Create a group by tapping the new message icon at the top of the screen and adding multiple people to the thread.

Once a group is created, Messenger treats the conversation just like it would any one-on-one convo. Tap the user icons to view the group's settings and change themes, turn on member requests, or search the conversation.

Accessing the menu at the top of the screen will also allow you to change the group's name, delete conversations, or leave the group entirely. Further down the screen is the option to manage individual members.

At the group's profile screen, tap Members to get a list of people in the conversation. Tap the three-dot icon to manage group members, by either giving them admin rights or removing them from the group.

Scan a Code on Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger also features Scan Codes, initially introduced by social media rival Snapchat. Users can scan these personal codes and instantly be linked on the Messenger app, instead of having to search through Facebook.

To see your code, tap your profile photo. Here you'll find your personalized code with your Facebook profile pic in the middle. If you tap that, the pop-up page will present two tabs. The My Code tab will present your code for easy scanning, while the "Scan Code" tab will allow you to scan in other people's codes.

Your Chatbot Would Like a Word

Tap the Discover icon at the bottom of the app for access to chatbots. Browse under Businesses to get news updates from CNN, order flowers with 1-800 Flowers or a car with Uber. You can even subscribe to a few and receive regular updates. Previously, this section also provided access to Games, but that functionality is moving to the main Facebook app.

Add Extensions Into Your Conversation

Facebook Messenger extensions allow you to interact with third-party services directly through your open chat window, giving you and your friend a chance to use them together. Click the four-dot icon in your conversation to view available extensions. Send top news stories with the Wall Street Journal extension, for example, or share recipes from the Food Network.

Send Songs Through Messenger

A number of the top music-streaming services—including Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music—integrate with Facebook Messenger, meaning you can send clips of favorite songs to your friends with just a few taps.

In Spotify, for example, tap the share button. Select Messenger in the options; this will open the Messenger app, where you can select a recipient. After you send, a Spotify link will appear in your conversation with that person. They can listen to a clip of the song within Messenger, but will have to switch to the Spotify app to hear the entire song or album.

Supersize Your Emoji

Sometimes a simple emoji won't do the trick and you need to SUPERSIZE it. Easy enough to do. Tap or click the smiley face emoji icon on mobile or the web, and long-press (or click) on your emoji of choice. When you release your finger, the super-sized emoji will send. But if you hold it too long, the icon will begin to shake before deflating back to its smaller, normal size.

Change Your Emoji Skin Tone

Add diversity to your emoji by navigating to Settings > Photos & Media > Emoji (Android) or Settings > Emoji (on iOS), where you can change the skin tone your emoji will display. On the web, click the gear in the top-left corner and select Settings.

Add Color Emoji, Nicknames to Conversations

Messenger lets you nickname particular conversations and assign them a color theme or their own particular emoji. Access this function by tapping on a contact's profile and selecting Color, Emoji, or Nickname.

Send and Receive Money Through Messenger

There are a number of mobile payment apps available now, but if you'd rather not leave the confines of Facebook when managing your finances, Messenger also lets you send and request money.

From inside a conversation, choose the dollar sign icon next to the text field to send money to your contact. Fill out the amount, and add your payment information if it's not yet added to the account.

Tap your photo on the top of the app and select Payments to add a debit card or link Facebook Messenger to your PayPal account. You can also add a PIN or fingerprint in connection with financial transactions to keep things more secure.

Start an Encrypted Secret Conversation

If you're looking to share information that you don't want falling into the wrong hands, start a Secret Conversation, which uses the Signal Protocol to set up end-to-end encryption.

Starting a Secret Conversation is optional because end-to-end encryption breaks some features in Messenger, like using it across multiple devices, archiving past conversations, and even sending things like money or animated GIFs.

First, you will need to enable Secret Conversations on your device (it can only be active on one device at a time). To do this on iOS or Android, tap your profile photo to access setting. Scroll to Secret Conversations and toggle it on.

To send a "Secret" message, tap the New Message icon on the top-right of the home screen and select "Secret" on the top-right. Or, in an existing chat, tap the person's name at the top of the screen and select Go to Secret Conversation. Secret conversations will appear in different threads from regular chats in Messenger.

Manage Visibility

If you value your privacy, Messenger has a few features that can help you secure your account, outside of Facebook's own security features.

Active Status tells your friends when you're online; a green dot will appear atop your profile icon when you're available to chat. If you'd rather not broadcast your status, navigate to Settings > Active Status and toggle it off. But this means you can't see other people's statuses either.

To block someone completely, navigate to Settings > People > Blocked ("Blocked People" on Android), where you can see who is blocked from contacting you. In this menu, you can unblock those people, or add more people and apps to your blocked lists.

Make Phone, Video Calls

Never Use your phone service again. You can make phone calls or video chat right through the Messenger app. Just click on the phone or video icon inside an existing chat on mobile or desktop to give your friend a call. Be warned that the service starts up as soon as you touch the button, though.

Make Messenger Your SMS App

If you like Facebook Messenger more than your standard text app, you can use it as your default SMS app—but only on Android. This means you will be able to receive text messages through the Messenger app, just like if someone was chatting with you. Tap your chathead and select SMS, and toggle on "Default SMS app."

Read Receipts

You can check on the status of your messages by tapping on them inside the chat window. Messenger will inform you when a message has been sent, then notify you when it has been delivered. The message will say "Seen" and a small version of your friend's profile picture will appear next to your message after it's been read.

Create a Poll on Facebook Messenger

Getting a group to make a decision can be frustrating. Messenger allows users to poll their friends through stories. Create a new story and a Polls option will be available under the Text menu. Add your question and use Messenger's privacy options to only allow certain people to see it.

Add Reminders

If you have plans to meet up with a friend and you need to remind them, Messenger allows you to set up a reminder right in your chat. Tap the four-dot icon and select Reminders. In the pop-up menu, add the appropriate info and a reminder will be sent in the chat.

Send Your Location

You can send your exact location to anyone you're talking with on the mobile app by tapping the four-dot icon and selecting Location. Facebook will launch a map that shows your current location; share it for 60 minutes or drop a pin at a specific spot. Friends will receive a link to your location on Messenger. You'll have to give Messenger permission to share your location in the background for that time period.

Add Additional Facebook Accounts

If you want to add an additional account to Messenger, go to Settings > Switch Account > Add Account to more easily switch between Facebook personas. On Android, you can also create a new account from this menu.

Turn on Dark Mode

Turn the Messanger interface from white to black by turning on dark mode. Open the Settings menu and activate the Dark Mode switch to change the app's color theme.

Delete Messages

Facebook Messenger allows users to undo messages up to 10 minutes after sending. You can perform this action by pressing down on your message on mobile, or opening the three-dot menu next to the text. Select Remove > Remove for Everyone to delete the message. Just know that the recipients will be able to see that you deleted something.

About the Author

Evan Dashevsky is a features editor with PCMag and host of our live interview series The Convo. He can usually be found listening to blisteringly loud noises on his headphones while exploring the nexus between tech, culture, and politics. Follow his thought sneezes over on the Twitter (@haldash) and slightly more in-depth diatribin' over on the Facebook. See Full Bio